We also received close on 100 entries for the junior section of the My Home, My Hood writing competition. There were so many amazing entries. Once again, the judges struggled to make a decision… but after much deliberating the winners are:
Karabo Mohapi for her entry My community, my doom. Responding to the news, Karabo said: “It is an indescribable feeling to be acknowledged as a worthy recipient of these wonderful prizes. It gives me hope that I can after all achieve my dream to be a published author. I am going to spend the prize money on toiletries that I have wanted for a long time now but have not been able to buy, and clothes. I’ll have some saved up for rainy days as well.”
Jada Johnson was acknowledged for her entry Wonderland. She said: “I am very excited to be one of the winners. I had a very traumatic experience the other day, the next day I got the call from you guys to say I won… it was like a rainbow at the end of a stormy night. So I am very excited and feel very blessed! I will use some of the money on my family – just do something nice for them. The rest I will use to help fund my art project that I run every Friday in Lavender Hill. I’ll buy some materials like acrylic paints, glue or crayons, etc.”
Queren Kamuanya for her entry No more hope. Queren said: “I still can’t believe I won actually. Like, yes, I entered this competition and knew that there was a chance I could have won but having it actually happen is breathtaking. I guess it’s because I underestimated myself. But wow, The adrenalin rush I got from hearing this news is exhilarating.”
Congratulations to all the winners.
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The judges also wanted to honour the following as being Highly Commended:
Mvano Khasibe for Dawn Park – Door to my soul, home to my heart
Sibongisiwe Peter for Under Attack
Dimakatso Qwabe for The Outsider – Alien of the hood
Emmanuel Mabonzot for Original Outcast
And the following are the Commended entries:
Sinokhanyo Sotiya for Feeling at home
Esethu Matanzima for Feeling unsafe in my community
Eunice Skosana for Things are not what they seem
Katherine Omonze for The reason I don’t want to go to school
Felicity Zulu for A good reason for heading out at night
Sebola Masilo Leave for The day I discovered the feeling of being unsafe in my hood
Caroline Mokgatla for Trapped
Dineo Chantal Motaung for Feeling like an outsider
Bongiwe Lengoba for My home, my hood
Zethu Mathaba for My new hood
Thato Monoge for Love your neighbour, trust no-one
Congratulations to all the winning, highly commended and commended entries… and to everyone who participated! Click here to meet the SENIOR winners of the competition.